Stringed musical instrument



Aug. 6, 1946. J, w MCBRIDE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR J0 n Er/dc ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1946. J, w, McB RlDE STRINGED MfisIcAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR (/0 n M! M Brio? a/wv/ ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1946. J. w. M BRIDE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mN MN,

' \NvENT'oR g r/be ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1946. J. w. MCBRIDE 2,405,316

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 \NvENTo-R Aug. 6, 1946. J. w. McBRlDE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fiid Jan. 26, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN ENTOR John PM Me Br/a BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT John W. McBride, Burbank, Calif.

Application January 26, 1943, Serial No. 473,601

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a musical instrument, and more particularly to an instrument having one or more tensioned strings, such as a guitar, banjo or violin.

The free vibrating length of any of the strings determines the pitch of the musical note produced by the string. The conventional manner of determining the free length is by stopping the string with the fingers. In some forms of instruments, it has been proposed to provide a key mechanism, operable adjacent the end of the neck, for mechanically adjusting the free vibrating length of the string.

For example, such an arrangement is described and claimed in an application, filed on April 14, 1941, in the name of John W. McBride, under Serial No. 388,379, now Patent No. 2,316,799, granted April 20, 1943. It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a different, simple form of mechanism for determining the free vibrating length of the string.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanism of this character that permits the use of the hand in a natural position, while the mechanism is operated, the fingers that are employed for this purpose extending in the direction of the strings, rather than in a direction transverse thereto.

In the prior application hereinabove identified, the lower side of the tensioned string is arranged to be contacted by a crest formed on a rotatable rod or bar. Angular adjustment of the rod or bar causes a corresponding variation of the point where the crest contacts the string to determine its free vibrating length. By the aid of the present invention, it is not necessary that the crest (whether continuous or interrupted) progress angularly about the axis of the bar. The crest may instead be placed on the side of the bar; the bar is moved past the string, the position of the crested side being thereby altered to cause any selected part of the crest to contact the string.

This motion of the bar can be arranged conveniently in a direction toward and from the body of the instrument, in its movements past the string. However, it is possible to move the bar in other directions, so long as the bar progresses past the string and the crest is caused to press against the string. It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a simple form of mechanism of this general character capable of determining the free vibrating length of the string.

It is another object of this invention to make it possible to transmit the string vibrations to an electric pick-up device in a simple and highly efiective manner; and particularly by members that transmit the vibrations to the device by physical contact.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an instrument incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the instrument illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken along the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken along the plane 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the plane 5-5 of Fig. 3, one of the bars determining the free vibrating length of a string being shown in a depressed position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of bar that may be utilized in connection with the invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the bar illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a bar, such as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, shown in cooperative position with a tensioned string;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a modified form of instrument incorporating the invention;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are sectional views, taken respectively along planes |Ei|0, H-Il and I2- I2 of Fig. 9;

Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary sectional views showing modified forms of the bars for determining the free vibrating length of a string;

Fig. 17 is a pictorial view of one of the bars used in connection with the instrument of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 18 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mounting means for the bars of Fig. 1.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 17 and 18, there is illustrated a body I, shown as having the configuration of a violin. It is provided with a neck 2, terminating in a scrolled peg board 3.

Extending above the body l and the neck 2 are a plurality of tensioned strings. Eight of such strings are shown in the present instance, numbored from to H inclusive. These strings are shown as appropriately supported in notches, such as I2 (Fig. 3) formed on a bridge l3. Since, in the form under discussion, a violin type instrument is disclosed in which the strings are arranged to be set into vibration by a bow moving transversely of the strings, the bridge I? is upwardly arched for supporting the strings at diifer-. ent heights respectively above the body of the instrument. Thus, the strings considered together are in a convex configuration across the body. The right hand ends of these strings may be anchored in an anchor piece l4, appropriately attached to the tail portion of the instrument.

Each of the strings to H inclusive is adapted to be tensioned. as by the aid of conventional pegs l5 extending through the scrolled portion 3. A supplemental bridge structure it (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is arranged adjacent the left hand end of the neck portion 2.

A plurality of adjustable bars is provided for making it possible to adjust the free vibrating lengths of the strings t! to H inclusive. For example, a bar i1 (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 17) is provided for adjusting the free vibrating length of the string 1. In the present instance this adjustable bar I! is also utilized for adjusting the free length of the adjacent string 6.

For this purpose the bar H, which may be of hollow tubular configuration, is shown as pro vided with crests l8 and I9 disposed on opposite sides of the bar. These crests extend generally longitudinally of the bar 51. They press against the strings where the strings cross the crests: and thereby the free length of the string depends upon the point where the string crosses the crest. To compensate for the increased freedom of the strings in their central positions where the distance to either bridge i3 or IE is relatively great, the crests bulge slightly in their mid portions toward the respective strings. This bulge is shown exaggerated in Fig. 6, in connection with a modifled form of bar which will be described hereinafter. Furthermore, since strings 6 and 1 adjacent bridge l3 are at different heights above the body of the instrument and, adjacent bridge It. at substantially the same height, the bar I? is of substantially rectangular cross section at its end adjacent bridge l6, as shown in Fig. 4; and is skewed or twisted at an increasing angle toward bridge l3 in accordance with the difference in heights of strings ii and 1 above body I (see Fig. 5).

The car I! is movable past the strings 6 and l between strings 5 and I is slightly less than the lateral distance across the bar from apex to, apex of the crests l3 and [9 at any point along the crests, Accordingly the strings 6 and l are resiliently maintained in contact with a point along the crests l8 and 19.

The maximum free length of a string, such as in Fig. 3, is obtained when bar ll is in One of its extreme positions,

The crest I8 is in contact with the string 1 at the point 23, near the left hand end of the bar ll. The string 7 is shown as forming an acute angle with the crest i8; nevertheless, the point of crossing of the string '8 over the crest H3 at the maximum free vibrating position is rendered accurate and definite by providing an extension 2! of the crest at the left hand end, and having a direction more nearly normal to the string. Thus, this maximum length may be maintained even for slight misalinements of bar ii, that may occur when the bar is in its extreme upper position.

The bar ll, however, may he moved downwardly in a manner to be hereinafter described, to assume another extreme position illustrated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3. This extreme position is also indicated in the section, Fig. 5. lhus, the crest H3 in this position contacts the string 1 at a point 22 corresponding to the shortest adjusted length of the string.

Crest 58 may have an extension 8%; at its right hand extremity, serving the same function as extension 2|.

In the course of movement of the bar I? from between its two extreme positions illustrated in Fig. 3, the free vibrating lengths of string 1 is correspondingly varied from the maximum illustrated in full lines, to the minimum illustrated in dot and dash lines.

The movement of the bar I? is such that as it moves the strings ii and 3 contact progressively different points of the crests. The crest I9, contacting the string 6, may be formed similarly to the crest I8, and operates in the same manner, to determine the free vibrating length oi that string.

Conveniently, the bar if may be arranged to move angularly to effect adjustment of the free vibrating length. For this purpose bar H is shown as fastened to a spring hinge finger 23. This finger is shown as formed integrally with and extending upwardly at a slight angle from a base plate 24 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 18) supported on the body i. The finger Z3 is fastened in any appropriate manner to the end portion of the bar ll. Downward pressure on bar 5'! will cause the bar to move downwardly, flexing finger the re silience of this finger being sufiicient to return bar ii to its normal position upon removal of such pressure.

Manipulation of the bar H" is effected by the aid of the key 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) carried by the left hand end of the bar W. This key 25 is shown as accommodated in a cavity or recess formed below neck 2 and extending beneath the scrolled portion 3. This recess extends entirely through the instrument, thus serving to accommodate the bar I! when it is in the depressed position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3.

The fingers of the player, for manipulation of such keys as 25, can extend generally in a direction corresponding to .the length of the neck. These manipulations are accomplished by inserting the fingers into the recess 25, from below the instrument.

A projecting edge 27 of the board 3 is formed at the top of the recess 25, to serve as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the bar IT. The resilient finger 23 urges the bar ll into the full line limiting position of Fig. 3 when the key 1 25 is released by the player.

Similarly, a projection 28, illustrated in Fig. 3

extends toward the left from the lower portion of the neck 2 to serve as a limiting stop against the lower portion of the key 25. By appropriate curving of the bar I! as viewed in Fig. 3, the angle of intersection between the crest I 8 and the string 1 can be kept substantially constant over the entire movement of the bar I? between its extreme positions. This angle is large enough to form a definite place of stopping the string.

The foregoing description relates to the bar H, which carries crests l8 and I9 capable of cooperating with the adjacent strings 6 and l. Other types of bars can be used, having one or more crests. As examples of such bars, attention is invited to bars 29 and 33, (Figs, 2, 4 and 5). These bars quite similar to bar ll, but carry only the single crests 3i and 32, respectively cooperating with the strings 4 and 5. These bars are also mounted on spring fingers 33 and 34 respectively, formed on the metallic base 24. The bars 29 and 30 likewise terminate in key portions 35 and 36, extending into the recess 26.

In another form of bar shown at 3?, two parallel sections, 33 and 39, are provided, each quite similar to bar I! and joined for common movement by a plurality of U-shaped or fork-like bars 82. Each of the sections carries a pair of crests 40, BI and 42, 43; crests 45 and 4! cooperate with the strings 8 and 9; crests 42 and 43 cooperate with the strings l and H. A common key 44 operates the composite bar 3?,

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the sections 38 and 39 are joined to a common spring finger 8|, carried by base 24. Due to the provision of the fork-like connection 82, the strings 9 and I0 do not interfere with the movement of bar 3'! (Fig. Key 44 (Fig. 4) is shown wide to conform to the overall width of sections 38 and 39.

By appropriate manipulation of the four keys that extend into the recess from below the neck, each of the bars ll, 29, 3i) and 31 may be controlled as desired. The instrument may conveniently rest on the lap of the player, or held closely to the body if the player is in a standing position, much as a guitar may be held; or if it be necessary to use a bow, the instrument can be supported as a conventional violin. The hand of the player can be kept in a comfortable, normal, unstrained position while the keys are moved.

While it is possible to produce an appropriate volume of sound by the design of the hollow body portion l, in the present instance an electrical pick-up device 45 (Fig. 3) is provided. which may be secured in body I in any desired manner. This pick-up device is shown as in immediate contact with the base of the spring hinge structure 24, which is attached to the pick-up by screws 24a. When mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the device 45, corresponding electrical impulses are produced in a circuit, which, as is well understood, leads to an appropriate sound amplifying system, Plucking or otherwise causing vibrations of any of the strings sets up a corresponding vibration in the bars ll, 29, 33 and 37, due to the physical contact of the bars with the strings. From the bars these vibrations are transmitted to the spring fingers 23, 33, 34 and 8! to the base 24, and thence to the pick-up device 45. This action supplements the transmission of such vibrations in the usual manner and improves the output of the pick up. The bridge 13 is of archlike form and spans the pick-up 45, due to the gap or opening I3-2. The bridge 13 is urged against body 5 by the tension of strings 4 to ii,

and is held in place thereby no fastening means being provided.

The tone control as well as intensity of re= sponse of the sound reproducing system can be adjusted by the aid of a control device 43 (Figs. 3 and 4). This device 45 is shown as mounted in a recess 4! communicating with the main recess 26. Device 46 may be provided with a control arm 48 adapted to be controlled by the thumb of the player. This control arm 48 extends through an appropriate slot in the neck 2, and through a slotted guide plate 49. The control arm 48 is joined, to rotatable stem 50 of the device 45, whereby movement of the arm about the axis of the stem at causes a corresponding variation in setting of the device 45. Conductors 5! (Figs. 3 and 4) are shown as leading from the pick-up device 45 to the device 46.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of bar 52 that has a continuous crest 53 on one side, and a discontinuous crest on the other side. This discontinuous crest is formed as a series of points 54. Each of these crests is bulged outwardly as previously mentioned, the extent of the bulge being exaggerated. Lines 33, 84 parallel to the plane in which bar 52 moves are shown in contact respectively with the highest points of the crests. However, as in the case of a continuous crest, the apexes of the points 54 fall substantially in a fiat plane that moves past the corresponding string.

When the bar 52 is used, the string 55 (Fig. 8), may be controlled by the points 54 of bar 52. The angular movement of the bar 52 causes these points to pass successively from one side of the string to the other. In the particular position shown in Fig. 8, and assuming that the bar 52 is moving downwardly, the apex of point 56 has passed the string, and the apex of point 5'! is ready to pass the string. The string, however, is in contact with both points 56 and 51, but on opposite sides of the points respectively, and toward the body of the bar from the apexes. Contact of string 55 with point 56 creates a resistance against upward movement of bar 52; and contact of string 55 with point 5! creates a resistance against downward movement of bar 52.

There is thus a stability in thi position, operating against displacement of the bar in either direction. The player can feel that a pair of adjacent points is in contact with the string, for he detects the resistance thus created against movement of the bar.

In the form of the invention just described the body I of the instrument is shown as of conventional shape. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 and 12, the bod 58 is of a, different form. It is so shaped that the strings 59, 60, BI and 62 fOIm a stepped arrangement. The string 59, furthermore, is shown as a double string. The strings are shown as anchored in the anchor plate 63 (Figs. 9 and 11) appropriately attached to the top of the body 58. The strings converge toward a bridge 64 adjacent the left hand end of the instrument and are tensioned by appropriate manipulation of the tuning pegs 65.

As before, a recess 56 extends through the body 58. In this recess are accommodated th keys 6'! formed on the ends of the crested bars 58, 69, 10 and H. Some of these bars, such as 68, 69 and 70 (Fig. 12) are provided with a pair of crests, 83, 84, arranged parallel to each other. These crests 83, 84 contact the string 6! at spaced points. That portion of the string between these points can be set into vibration, if desired, to produce a tone musically related to the tone produced in the main vibrating section of the string.

The bars 68, 6.), m and H are appropriately supported by the aid of a spring hinge structure 12 (Fig. 9), which provides spring fingers 13, M, 5 and 76 respectively for the bars.

By virtue of the arrangement of the strings oblique to the neck, it is possible to set these strings into vibration by a force applied in the direction of the arrow 11 (Fig. 11).

This direction is such that a natural motion of the fingers is used, rendering the instrument easy to operate. A pick-up device 18 (Fig. 9) is shown beneath the right hand portions of the strings 56, 6!), GI and 62. The intensity of response of the sound reproduction system fed from the pick-up device 18 may be controlled by the arm 19, operating similarly to arm 48, described in connection with the form of the instrument shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

The control of the free vibrating lengths of the strings 55, 69, SI and 62 is accomplished in a manner similar to that described in the form of the instrument illustrated in Figs, 1 to 8.

The crests, such as 3|, 32 (Figs. 4 and 5) or 83, 8 3 (Fig. 12) are formed of rigid material, and may conveniently be integral with the respective bars. Ihe crests, however, can be made of yielding or soft material, such as leather, felt, rubber or the like, to act as a damper for the string vibrations. Such dampers are especially useful in connection with bows, either in the form of a con ventional violin bow or a rotary disk bow. Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive illustrate such crests arranged in a variety of ways.

Fig. 13 shows a bar 85 having a V shaped groove 36 in which is accommodated a strip 8'! of soft material. It ma be held in place by any appropriate adhesive. This strip forms a relatively wide crest serving very effectively as a damper. The apexes 9| of the groove 86 serve as definite, rigid stops for the string.

Fig. 14 shows a bar 88 with a soft crest member 83 adhered thereto, and having a more pointed apex than the member 81 of Fig. 13.

In Fig. 15 the soft crest member 90 is shown as rectangular in section. As in Fig. 13, an apex 92 of the rigid type, supplements the yielding crest.

In Fig. 16, a double crested bar 93 is illustrated; one of the crests 94 is rigid, and the other crest 95 is of yielding material.

Where a discontinuous crest is used, such as that formed by points 54 in Figs. 6 and '7, it may be desirable to provide damping means acting on the string between the points of the crest, to obviate any tendency of the vibrating string to rattle against the points. Such damping means may be formed by pads, indicated by 91, of any suitable material such a felt, secured to bar 52 between the points 54 and substantially of the same height as the points.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having one or more crests on one side thereof and engaging said string, and means for moving said bar in a direction to pass the string, t cause the crests to move progressively with respect to the tring.

2. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, and means for moving the bar so that the apex of the crest moves past the string substantially in a plane to cause the crest to move progressively with respect to the string.

3. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, and means for movably supporting the bar for angular movement such that the apex of the crest moves past the string substantiall in a plane to cause the crest to move progressively with respect to the string.

4. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, and means for movably supporting the bar for angular movement such that the apex of the crest moves substantially in a plane past the string to cause the crest to move progressively with respect to the string, comprising a spring hinge to which the bar is joined, said hinge extending transversely of the string.

5. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a key for operating said mechanism, and means forming a hinge for the key, and extending transversely of the string, said key having an extension for finger manipulation, and extending generally in the same direction as the string.

6. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, a neck attached to the body, one or more tensioned strings disposed above the neck and body, and means for adjusting the free vibrating length of a string, including a key extending below the neck and terminating in a recess in the neck.

7. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, a neck attached to the body, one or more tensioned strings disposed above the neck and body, and means for adjusting the free vibrating length of a string, including a bar, and means for hingedly mounting said bar on said body, for movement toward and away from the neck and past the corresponding string, said bar having a string contacting crest.

8. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, a neck attached to the body, one or more tensioned strings disposed above the neck and body, and means for adjusting the free vibrating length of a string, including a bar, and means for hingedly mounting said bar on said body, for movement toward and away from the neck and past the corresponding string, said bar having a string contacting crest, as well as a key formed at the free end thereof, and extending into a recess below the neck.

9. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, a plurality of tensioned strings disposed over the body, a bar extending between a pair of adjacent strings and having a crest on each side thereof, respectively engaging said strings, and means for moving the bar to adjust the points of contacts between the crests and the respective strings.

10. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a series of elevated points lying substantially in a plane and adapted to engage the string, and means for moving the bar so that the apexes of the points move in said plane to pass the string, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement.

11. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a series of elevated points lying substantially in a plane and adapted to engage the string, and a hinge structure for the bar, restraining movement of the bar so that said points move in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement.

12. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, strings over the body, adjustable means for contacting the strings to determine the free vibrating lengths thereof, and an electrical pick-up device for the vibrations, and operated by transmission of vibrations from the strings through said contacting means.

13. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a plurality of crests for engaging the string at points on each crest, said crests extending lengthwise of the bar and lying substantially in a plane, and means for moving said bar to cause said crests to move in said plane to pass the string, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement.

14. In a stringed musical instrument, a body, a plurality of tensioned strings disposed over the body, a plurality of bars for adjusting the free vibrating length respectively of the strings in response to movement of the bars, and means associated with each bar for restraining movement of said bar to a direction past the respective string, the strings forming a series lying obliquely to the said direction of movement.

15. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having one or more crests on one side thereof and engaging said string, at least one of said crests being yielding, and means for moving said bar in a direction to cause the crest to move progressively with respect to the string.

16. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a groove along a side thereof, said groove having walls with crests at the upper ends, a yielding crest member in the groove, said crest member and the wall crests engaging said string, and means for moving said bar in a direction to cause the crests and crest member to move progressively with respect to the string.

17. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, the apex of said crest lying substantially in a plane, and means for movably mounting the bar for angular movement such that the apex of the crest moves in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement, said crest being bowed toward the string, the high part of the bow being at an intermediate place along the length of the crest.

18. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, the apex of said crest lying substantially in a plane, and means for movably mounting the bar for angular movement such that the apex of the crest moves in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement, at least a portion of said crest being arched in the direction of motion of the crest, to maintain the angle formed between the crest and the string at a favorable value for all relative positions of that portion of the crest and the string.

19. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a series of elevated points lying substantially in a plane and adapted to engage the string, means for moving the bar so that the apcxes of the points move substantially in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of said movement, and damping means on the bar adapted to contact the string between said points.

20. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, the apex of said crest lying in a plane, and means for moving the bar so that the apex of the crest moves in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of movement of the crest, whereby movement of the bar causes said apex to move progressively with respect to the string.

21. In a mechanism for adjusting the free length of a tensioned string for a musical instrument, a bar having a crest engaging the string, the apex of said crest lying in a plane, and means for movably supporting the bar for angular movement such that the apex of the crest moves in said plane, the string extending in a direction parallel with said plane and transverse to the direction of movement of the crest, whereby movement of the bar causes said apex to move progressively with respect to the string.

JOHN W. McBRlJDE. 

